Butter Insurance

Butter Insurance: travel and tech insurance with online purchase

Butter Insurance Pty Ltd is an Australian insurer that offers two product lines: travel insurance and tech device insurance, both available for purchase through its website. The company presents its offering as an agile alternative, with a purchase process that it says can be completed in under two minutes and with claims management entirely online.

Travel coverage

Butter's travel insurance is structured as a policy with essential benefits. Included cover features unlimited emergency medical and hospital expenses, as well as unlimited emergency medical treatment for COVID-19. The policy provides up to AUD 40,000 for trip cancellation and interruption, up to AUD 10,000 for luggage and personal effects — with an additional AUD 300 if luggage is delayed —, AUD 50,000 for personal accident, AUD 2,000 for travel delay exceeding six hours, and AUD 2,500,000 for personal liability. Additional benefits are also included, such as dental cover, pregnancy cover and, if luggage cover is selected, protection for passport and travel documents, as detailed in the PDS.

The company states that the policy has a $0 excess in most cases, including add-on packages, travel delay, personal accident and personal liability, while a fixed $250 excess applies to the rest, such as medical expenses, cancellations and luggage. Coverage extends to 173 countries.

Additional options for travellers

The insured can customise the policy with optional modules. Motorcycle and moped cover covers emergency medical expenses for injuries sustained while riding these vehicles during the trip. Ski and snow cover protects against a range of events that may occur while participating in snow sports. Rental car excess cover provides up to $6,000 for the excess the insured is liable for in the event of theft or damage to the rental vehicle. Boat and cruise cover applies to events occurring during multi-night cruises. Finally, pet boarding cover provides up to $200 per day, to a maximum of $1,400, if the return from overseas is delayed and the pet's stay in a boarding facility needs to be extended.

Assistance and claims management

Butter offers 24-hour emergency assistance and a fully online claims process. The company says its aim is to resolve claims as efficiently as possible. Policy management and claim submission are done through the insured's personal account on the website.

Tech device insurance

Butter Tech is the line aimed at protecting electronic devices. It covers new items with an original purchase price between AUD 300 and AUD 5,000, in categories such as phones, laptops and headphones, among others. Purchase must be made within 90 days of buying the item. The cover protects against accidental damage and theft both in Australia and overseas during trips, with a limit of 90 days abroad. It does not cover accidental loss of the item, i.e., if it is left unattended. Other exclusions apply as set out in the Product Disclosure Statement.

Purchase and customer service

Interested parties can get travel or tech quotes through the website. The company states that the purchase process requires answering a few questions and is usually completed in under two minutes. For questions about managing the policy or for additional assistance, the company provides the email address support@butterinsurance.com.au.

Important notice for travellers to Indonesia

The website includes a prominent notice for travellers to Indonesia: travel insurance policies purchased after 12:00PM (midday) AEST on 18 June 2025 will not cover losses arising from the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, as it is a widely reported event. Policies purchased before that date may still offer coverage, subject to the terms of the policy.

Resources for travellers

Butter publishes practical guides on its blog, including articles on entry requirements for Australians in Vietnam, the United Kingdom and the United States. The website also includes an FAQ section covering aspects such as what travel insurance covers and what it does not, COVID-19 coverage, factors influencing price, how Butter Tech works and the procedures for managing the policy or making a claim.